Dad is about to become a USC.

Hi,

My dad is about to become a USC. I am 26 and under DACA.

I understand that he can now sponsor me in the Family Preference Category. Has anyone gone through with this? If so, how long did it take?

Since you are past the age of 18 it will take about 20-25 years before you get a green card, that's the fastest timeline not including the country factor.

fuck.

Think about it this way, you will retire at 60, so whatever you earned during your DACA years should count, you'll live your last year comfortably (I hope) Good luck!

I'm mexican and I can confirm that, I've been waiting since 2005. Not sure for other countries, I think about 6-7 years, think.

Whoa. Can you explain the process a bit?

Unmarried sons and daughters (over 21) of US citizens are in F1 category.
Unmarried sons and daughters (over 21) of Permanent Residents are in F2B category.
Married Children of US citizens are in F3 category.


So your father was able to file I-130 for you when he first got his green card. The F2B petition would be upgraded into an F1 upon his naturalization, but you can choose to opt out in cases where F2B is backlogged less than F1.

F1 is backlogged 7.5 for majority of the world, 21 years for Mexico, and 12.5 years for Philippines.
F2B is backlogged 6.75 years for majority of the world, 20.5 years for Mexico, and 21 years for Philippines.
F3 is backlogged 11.5 years for majority of the world, 21.5 years for Mexico, and 22.25 years for Philippines.


Those are the numbers of years you'd expect to wait. However, note that without 245(i) coverage you will not be eligible to adjust status in US. You might be eligible for an I-601 hardship waiver, but proving hardship in cases of parent - adult child to the parent is difficult. There is also the possibility that they'll extend the provisional waiver to cover other family categories, but you're still looking at 7 years of wait at the best case, and 21 at the worst.

Even if you don't really qualify, your father can still file I-130, even if the petition in question will never result in a green card. Whereas unlikely the laws may change, they might reopen 245(i), who knows.